Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Yield and Its Component Traits in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
Jay Kumar Gurjar
*
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Ashok Kumar Meena *
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Malu Ram Yadav
Department of Agronomy, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Jagveer Singh Rathore
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To study the correlation and path coefficient analysis of yield and its contributing characters in groundnut with aim of identifying superior yield contributing attributes for crop improvement.
Study Design: Augmented Block Design.
Place and Duration of Study: AICRP on Groundnut, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, between June 2024 to October 2024.
Methodology: We include sixty-three genotypes, including three standard checks, were assessed at the Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur, using an augmented block design. Observations were taken for twelve characters: three phenological (days to 50% flowering, peg initiation, and maturity), seven yield-related (branches/plant, pods/plant, pod yield/plant, kernel yield/plant, shelling percentage, sound mature kernel (SMK) percentage and 100-kernel weight) and two biochemical (protein and oil content).
Results: The correlation and path analysis revealed kernel yield/plant, pods/plant, branches, and SMK as the most dependable contributors to dry pod yield/plant in groundnut. The yield of dry pods/plant demonstrated very strong positive correlations with both the number of pods/plant (rg = 0.98**) and kernel yield/plant (rg = 0.98**), as well as with the number of branches/plant (rg = 0.82**). It was also strongly correlated with the presence of sound mature kernels (rg = 0.73**). Path analysis confirmed kernel yield as the most influential trait, showing a strong direct effect (0.9767) on the yield of dry pods/plant is followed by the number of pods/plant with a moderate direct effect (0.0641) and sound mature kernels with a smaller effect (0.0215). While branches are positively correlated, they exerted a minimal negative direct effect of -0.0059, which suggests that their contributions are primarily indirect. Conversely, shelling percentage (-0.2067), 100-kernel weight (-0.0129), oil content (0.0211) and protein content (0.0137) showed weak or inconsistent direct effects, highlighting their limited role in yield improvement.
Conclusion: The traits such as kernel yield, pods/plant and SMK were identified as greater portion of dependable selection parameters aimed at enhancing dry pod yield in groundnut, with branches acting as a supportive trait through indirect effects. Conversely, shelling percentage, 100-kernel weight, protein content and oil content played minor or inconsistent roles, making them less reliable as primary selection indices.
Keywords: Correlation analysis, path analysis, pod yield, groundnut